USDA Gears Up For Russian Trade Mission

Mission a springboard for new trade opportunities post-WTO accession

Nov 29, 2012

Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse will lead a mission to promote U.S. agricultural exports to Russia, Dec. 3-7, and will include representatives from several U.S. states and 23 American companies, USDA announced Thursday.

With its recent World Trade Organization accession and rapidly expanding economy, Russia is an important market for U.S. agricultural products, USDA notes. Top U.S. exports include red meat, poultry, live cattle and tree nuts.

Mission a springboard for new trade opportunities post-WTO accession

Two-way agricultural trade between the United States and Russia was valued at roughly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2012, with American farm exports accounting for 97% of the total—a significant contribution to the U.S. agricultural trade surplus.

Today, only 1% of U.S. companies export, and yet 95% of the world's consumers live outside the borders of the United States, creating significant opportunities for U.S. food and agriculture. At the same time, the American agricultural economy is experiencing its strongest period in history with record exports and near-record income for farming families, altogether supporting 1 in 12 jobs in the United States.

"People around the world continue to demand U.S. food and agricultural products, boosting American businesses and supporting our rural communities," Scuse said. "To ensure these successes continue, USDA has aggressively worked to expand export opportunities and reduce barriers to trade."

Scuse noted that fewer restrictions abroad, stronger trade deals for U.S. agriculture and greater export assistance for U.S. businesses support more than 1 million Americans jobs in a variety of industries.

Exports of U.S. food and agricultural products are expected to reach $143.5 billion in fiscal 2013, well above the record set in 2011, while exports in fiscal year 2012 achieved the second-highest level of all time. Even with tough odds due to extreme weather, U.S. agriculture is delivering for the American economy, putting our nation's agricultural sector on pace to achieve President Obama's goal under the National Export Initiative of doubling exports by the end of 2014.

This Russia trade mission is the second major USDA agricultural trade mission this year for U.S. companies. A successful trade mission to China was held in March. Companies attending the Russia trade mission represent a wide variety of agricultural products including cattle, meat and poultry, fruit and nuts, consumer-oriented products and more.

USDA's goal is to provide participants with market information, access to government decision makers and one-on-one meetings with business contacts, potential agents, distributers and importers so they can position themselves to enter or expand their presence in the Russian market.